XiaoFu Li
Vibrapower Inc – MICRO Spring 2025
Published October 15, 2025
As part of our ‘Meet Our Founders’ series today, we introduce XiaoFu Li, CEO of Vibrapower Inc based in Raleigh, NC. VibraPower creates adaptive vibration energy harvesters that power wireless sensors without batteries or wiring, enabling sustainable, maintenance-free monitoring in industrial, automotive, and marine applications.
Q: What problem are you trying to solve and what influenced you to start your company?
A: We’re solving the costly, unsustainable problem of powering wireless sensors. Batteries die, wiring is expensive, and maintenance is disruptive. Based on comprehensive market research, I recognize the critical importance of reliable sensing for operations, as well as the significant time and money invested in battery replacement and wiring. That experience, combined with research at NC State, inspired me to start VibraPower—to turn wasted vibration into clean, continuous power and unlock maintenance-free sensor networks.
Q: What are you most excited about right now? What keeps you up at night?
A: I’m most excited about turning our working prototype into real-world pilots — seeing VibraPower actually keep sensors running in mines, factories, and smart tires. What keeps me up is making sure our tech is rugged and reliable across wildly different vibration environments, and that we secure the pilots/funding needed to scale.
Q: What does the road ahead look like for your company?
A: The road ahead is about proving impact through pilots, then scaling. In the next 12 months, VibraPower will complete industrial and mining pilots, explore and expand into marine sensor deployments. We’ll refine our IP, file non-provisional patents, and probably raise a seed round to grow our team. Long-term, our vision is to become the go-to provider of adaptive energy harvesters, powering millions of wireless sensors without batteries or wiring.
Q: How will your NC IDEA grant funds advance your company?
A: The NC IDEA MICRO Grant allows us to take VibraPower from prototype to pilot-ready. We’re using the funds to build and test ruggedized harvesters, validate performance across real-world vibration environments, and support integration with early partners. This support helps us de-risk the technology, strengthen our IP, and position VibraPower for seed funding and broader customer adoption.
Q: When did you know you wanted to take an entrepreneurial path?
A: I realized I wanted to be an entrepreneur while working as a control algorithm researcher at ASML. I loved solving complex technical problems, but I kept seeing opportunities where innovation could directly impact industries. During my PhD research at NC State, I worked on vibration energy harvesting and saw how it could eliminate batteries in harsh environments. Those experiences convinced me that I didn’t just want to publish papers — I wanted to turn ideas into real products that solve real problems. That’s when VibraPower was born.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about starting your own company?
A: What I’ve enjoyed most is seeing an idea move from research to reality — watching a vibration harvester I helped design actually power a sensor in the field. I also love building a team of talented people around a shared mission and connecting with customers who get excited about eliminating batteries. Those moments of validation make the long hours worthwhile.
While visiting Raleigh, XiaoFu recommends:
- In Raleigh, I’d recommend visiting the NC Museum of Art and exploring the greenway trails for a mix of culture and nature. For food, Brewery Bhavana is a must-try spot—dim sum, craft beer, and a creative atmosphere all in one place.
Support Vibrapower and XiaoFu by:
- Support VibraPower by connecting us with industrial, automotive, or marine partners interested in battery-free sensing. Introductions to pilot customers, strategic mentors, and seed investors are especially valuable.